The 2025-2026 Football Thread

[Scepticalscribe]

Can we all just rejoice for a moment and bask in Ronaldo’s red against Ireland?

Yes, I did rejoice.

It should be ruled violent conduct with a three match ban but FIFA will never let that happen.

Agreed.

The only thing more satisfying than a sarcastically clapping Ronaldo is a crying Ronaldo.

And again, agreed.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Gabriel injured in a friendly for Brazil. Thanks Ancelotti.

Damn friendlies. Damn them.

A waste of time, resources, and a perennial potential threat to the well-being and health of players.

Now, granted, in the old days, when international fixtures between the major tournaments were few and far between, I could understand the reasons behind arranging "friendly" international games, not least to allow teams to become familiar with one another (let alone their opponents).

Nowadays, with a cluttered fixture list (both for club and country), the old justifications for friendlies fall away; these days, with the surfeit of games, they are just an attention-seeking, money-grab, serving little reason or justification for existing.

 

[Bodhitree]

Italy 1 - Norway 4 in the World Cup qualifying was rather fun, Haaland scored two and the Italians go to the playoffs while Norway go to the big stage.

 

[laptech]

Italy 1 - Norway 4 in the World Cup qualifying was rather fun, Haaland scored two and the Italians go to the playoffs while Norway go to the big stage.

Italy's team in the playoff's will be very important because there is the potential Italy could fail to qualify for the world cup for the 3rd time running. It would be a dark day in their history if they fail to qualify again.

 

[timber]

Nobody is entitled to anything but I would like to have Italy in the WC.

 

[Bodhitree]

The qualifying field is so large this time that it would be a real surprise if Italy don’t get through, though.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Italy will only have themselves to blame if they fail. Their playoff opponent will be a much weaker team, such as Northern Ireland. It might not be a complete walkover but Italy will be heavy favorites regardless who they draw.

 

[laptech]

People need to remember who Italy lost to at the last world cup qualifying playoffs, knocking them out. Italy were the Euro champions at the time and they lost 1-0 to Macedonia.

It is by no means going to be easy for Italy who ever they get.

 

[Silencio]

Gattuso has talked so much smack about CONMEBOL getting too many qualifying spots, I'd be happy if they failed to make it again.

Honestly, they're such a mediocre team, I don't think they could beat Bolivia, the weakest side in CONMEBOL.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Gattuso has talked so much smack about CONMEBOL getting too many qualifying spots, I'd be happy if they failed to make it again.

Honestly, they're such a mediocre team, I don't think they could beat Bolivia, the weakest side in CONMEBOL.

I agree - they are far from a guarantee, and if they fail, I'll chuckle. But they still have plenty of talent and should be able to qualify. You know Gattuso must be desperate if he complains about CONMEBOL....

 

[brucemr]

Gattuso recently not only bad mouthed CONMEBOL WC qualifying process (too many WC places), but also Africa (too many WC places vs. when he was a player), and UEFA (when he was a player, group runner up always auto qualified (not true per BBC fact check)).

 

[Bodhitree]

They could come up against Turkey or Poland, there are 16 teams in the playoffs for Europe and four spots to go through.